Donatella's 3D Computer Animation Blog
My 3D Computer Animation Progress

Category: 3.18 Week 18

Categories
3.18 Week 18 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 18: Lip-Sync Animation – Blocking Plus

Introduction

This week, I focused on working on my blocking plus animation, making sure I keyed every part of the body.

Blocking Plus

First Outcome

This time I focused on adding keys to each part of the body and adding more breakdowns into my animation.

The part I struggled with the most was when the character points at the computer as I could not control the rotations in a smooth way.

However, I was advised that I can polish the movements when I start working in spline.

Feedback

  • The first thing I need to improve is the body movement. I need to add some moving holds and create some overlap with the torso, neck and head.
  • I was advised not to include the last part when the character takes the mouse, as I should not overcomplicate the scene.
  • I need to add some animation to the eyelids.

Second Outcome

For my second attempt, I focused on creating some overlaps with the body, neck and head.

I also added two moving holds (one at the beginning and another one when the character looks at his screen).

I adapted the last part so that my character would walk away without taking the mouse.

Further Comments

Now that I have created the key poses of my character, I can start working in spline, which means I can now focus on animating the mouth and lips.

Categories
3.18 Week 18 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 18 – Animated Artefact – Animation

Introduction

This week, I focused on polishing the animation and cleaning up the poses of my character. I also had a feedback session with George, which will help me to improve my short film.

Spline Animation

IK/FK Switch: This week, I made sure to improve the scenes in which I made the IK/FK switch in the arms, which has been a major challenge because the movement between the frames was abrupt.

Turning Around: I also worked on improving the moment when the character turns towards the creatures (see frame 303). Last week, my leg and knee were broken, so I focused on adjusting the knee controllers.

Crawling Backwards: Furthermore, I focused on improving the crawling animation by adding a wobbly effect into the movements of my character. I also rotated the chest towards the sides where the hands were touching the floor.

Fix Camera: After receiving my feedback, I noticed that I had to adjust the position of the camera as it cuts off the hand of my character in frame 275. I must have moved it by accident, as last week I did not have this issue.

Replacing Placeholder Elements

Adjusting Proportions

Apart from polishing the animation, I also focused on replacing all the placeholder elements with the models I created last week (bed, door, frame and bookshelf). However, the most important aspect was to adjust the proportions between the character and the furniture in the room. In this way, the room now has a more stylized appearance and the sizes of the elements seem to be more accurate.

Further Comments

Next week, after polishing the character’s animation, I can start working on the creatures and get my final feedback session before the submission.